Shower recess and method of construction

ABSTRACT

An extrusion for forming a shower recess, said extrusion including: a base having means for retaining adhesive for adhering the member to a floor; securing means for securing a waterproof membrane; and a feature visible on the member at a level above the base corresponding to a bedding level for the shower recess.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application is a continuation to U.S. patent application No. 10/483,299, filed on Jan. 7, 2004 which is a national phase application of International Application No. PCT/US02/21904, filed on Jul. 10, 2002, which claims priority of Australian Patent Application No. 54276/01, filed on Jul. 10, 2001.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is concerned with a shower recess and with a component used in the construction of a shower recess and with a method for constructing a shower recess.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A common problem in the building industry is that prior art shower recess designs have often found to be prone to leaking.

In the past it has been common for a shower recess construction to involve the use of a hob, being a small wall approximately 110 mm×75 mm around the shower recess to retain water. Typically the hob is formed from bricks covered with shower tiles. One problem with the construction is that water is able to penetrate through the grout between the tiles to weaken the adhesive fixing the tiles to the hob so that they may detach. Once the integrity of the tiles is lost moisture may damage the area surrounding the shower recess so that moldings and floor coverings may have to be replaced.

A further problem is that a hob constitutes a fairly large and unsightly wall that has to be stepped over in order to enter the shower recess.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a shower recess and a component for making a shower recesses which overcomes or at least alleviates the above problems and which is an alternative to prior art systems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided an extrusion for forming a shower recess, said extrusion including:

a base having means for retaining adhesive for adhering the member to a floor;

securing means for securing a waterproof membrane; and

a feature visible on the member at a level above the base corresponding to a bedding level for the shower recess.

In a preferred embodiment the securing means are notches formed along one side of the extrusion.

Preferable the means for retaining adhesive comprises one or more grooves formed into the base of the member.

The feature for indicating the bed level may be an inwardly protruding ridge formed along one side of the extrusion. Alternatively it could simply be a visible line or other marking formed along one side of the extrusion.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a shower recess including:

an extrusion fixed to a flooring structure and defining one or more sides of the shower recess;

a tiled surface sloping down from under an inner lip of the extrusion to a drain;

a shower door arranged to close adjacent the inner lip and directly above a portion of the tiled surface; and

a water impermeable layer located inside the extrusion and above the flooring structure.

Preferably the water impermeable layer is fixed to the extrusion by securing means. In a preferred embodiment the securing means comprises one or more notches formed along an inner side of the extrusion.

Preferably the shower door is arranged to close adjacent the inner lip and directly above a portion of the tiled surface by means of a door support which is located upon the tiles and adjacent the inner lip.

Preferably a water impermeable seal is located between the seal and the door support.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for constructing a shower recess including the steps of:

forming a wall of the shower recess by fixing an extrusion to a flooring structure;

locating a water impermeable membrane over the flooring structure and securing it to an inner wall of the extrusion;

forming a tiled floor over the membrane; and

installing a shower door support adjacent an inner lip of the extrusion and over a portion of the tiled floor.

Preferably the water impermeable membrane is secured to the inner wall of the extrusion by means of notches formed into the inner wall of the extrusion.

Preferably the step of fixing the extrusion to the flooring structure includes applying adhesive to grooves formed in a base of the extrusion

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a cross section of an extrusion according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an L-shaped member formed from two extrusions similar to the type illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross section of a shower recess according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference to FIG. 1, an aluminum extrusion includes means for retaining adhesive in the form of grooves 4 and 6 which are intended to receive an adhesive for gluing the frame to a concrete slab or other flooring structure. The extrusion further includes securing means in the form of notches 3, 5 and 7 for securing a fiberglass membrane to the extrusion. Ledge 8 comprises a visible feature that is useful as a height guide for a tiler to form a mortar bed to as will be described.

With reference to FIG. 2 a pair of sections 2 are joined to form an L-frame 13 which is located in a corner of a bathroom in order to form a shower recess. FIG. 3(4) shows in cross section a shower recess 19 incorporating frame 13. Frame 13 is glued directly to concrete slab 21. A fiberglass membrane 23 is located over slab 21 and L-frame 13 being secured to the L-frame by means of notches 7, 3 and 5 (FIG. 1). A mortar bed 25 is built up over the membrane to a height indicated by ledge 8 on the L-frame. Tiles 27 are then laid over the mortar bed and around drain grate 29. Opposite L-frame 13 the recess is closed by wall sheeting 31 which is fixed to stud-wall 33. Fiberglass membrane 23 runs up between wall sheeting 31 and tiles 27 in order to prevent penetration of water into the wall sheeting and underlying floor.

Shower screen 35 is installed and sealed to lip 9 (FIG. 1), being the top inside edge of the L-section 13, by means of a silicone bead 37.

In use water falling on the inside of shower screen 35 drips onto tiles 27 and then down into drain grate 29. Any water that penetrates the grout between tiles 27 and mortar bed 25 will be unable to penetrate fiberglass membrane 23 and so will divert down drain. Furthermore, the membrane is secured by means of notches 3, 5 and 7 so that the likelihood of a gap forming between membrane 23 and L-section 13, through which water might ingress, is reduced.

While the invention has been described in relation to a preferred embodiment it will be realized that variations and further embodiments are possible within the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims. 

1.-16. (canceled)
 17. A shower recess for a flooring structure having a drain, comprising: a bedding on the flooring structure sloping toward the drain; at least one extrusion adapted to be fixed to the flooring structure, the at least one extrusion having an inner side facing inside the shower recess and an outer side facing away from the shower recess, the at least one extrusion comprising: a base extending generally toward the drain between the flooring structure and the bedding, and comprising means for retaining adhesive for fixing the base to the flooring structure; a wall extending from the base, the wall and base having a side facing the inside; securing means on the inner side of the wall for securing a waterproof membrane to the wall; and a member extending from the inner side of the wall, the member being spaced above the base at a level corresponding to the level of the bedding; and a water impermeable membrane located over the flooring structure and the inner side and secured at the securing means to the inner side.
 18. The shower recess of claim 17, wherein the securing means comprises a first securing means located on the member.
 19. The shower recess of claim 18, wherein the first securing means comprises a notch for receipt of an adhesive.
 20. The shower recess of claim 19, wherein the member comprise a ledge.
 21. The shower recess of claim 20, wherein the securing means further comprises second securing means located on the inner side of the wall above the first securing means.
 22. The shower recess of claim 21, wherein the second securing means comprises a notch for receipt of an adhesive.
 23. The shower recess of claim 18, wherein the membrane extends between the bedding and the flooring structure from the drain, between the bedding and the base and between the bedding and the inner side of the wall to the first securing means.
 24. The shower recess of claim 21, wherein the membrane extends between the bedding and the flooring structure from the drain, between the bedding and the base, between the bedding and the inner side of the wall, and passed the first securing means to the second securing means.
 25. The shower recess of claim 17, wherein the securing means comprises at least one notch for receipt of an adhesive located on the inner side.
 26. The shower recess of claim 17, comprising tile on the bedding.
 27. The shower recess of claim 17, wherein the means for retaining adhesive comprises at least one groove.
 28. The shower recess of claim 17, wherein the membrane is fiberglass.
 29. The shower recess of claim 17, wherein the member comprises a ledge.
 30. The shower recess of claim 17, wherein the at least one extrusion comprises substantially an L-shaped cross-section.
 31. The shower recess of claim 17, wherein the wall further comprises an end having a lip extending from the inner side of the wall for supporting a shower screen.
 32. The shower recess of claim 31, further comprising a shower screen supported by the lip.
 33. The shower recess of claim 32, comprising a seal between the shower screen and the lip.
 34. The shower recess of claim 17, wherein the at least one extrusion comprises two said extrusions inter connected at an angle to each other.
 35. The shower recess of claim 17, wherein the bedding comprises a mortar. 